 Don Lang backs his bike, loaded own with gear, into the Pacific Ocean. He officially dipped his wheels in the ocean the morning he set out for his cross-country ride to raise money for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. |
He鈥檚 off and pedaling back home to Dunkirk!
Donald Lang, retired director of the Fredonia Chamber Singers, rolled out of San Diego last Wednesday on the first leg of a cross-country bike excursion, propelled by a tide of wishes of good luck and growing list of friends and colleagues backing Lang鈥檚 mission to raise money for Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Lang鈥檚 legion of supporters back home -- who each chipped in $30 towards a goal of $6,000 for Roswell -- were treated to an email dispatch and early-morning photograph of Lang dipping the rear wheel of his 24-speed bicycle into the Pacific Ocean. And they鈥檒l continue receiving exclusive updates on Lang鈥檚 Facebook page.
Before embarking on the 3,000-mile trek, Lang was treated royally by his San Diego hosts, who prepared a homemade Mexican dinner and offered a night鈥檚 lodging. He also spoke to the Rotary Club there, as one of his hosts was a member and an avid cyclist, in much the same fashion as Lang described his trip to Rotarians in Fredonia and Dunkirk in the weeks leading up to the trip.
And if he netted a few pledges from those sun-drenched Rotarians, that鈥檚 all the better for Roswell.
Lang鈥檚 first day on the road began with a most challenging climb, from sea level to 4,000 feet. 鈥淯phill virtually all the way 鈥 pretty tough,鈥 he reported.
Lang initially pedaled alongside the San Diego River and then passed Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers football team, before beginning the gradual 49-mile ascent to Pine Valley. 鈥淲ith four bags of stuff, riding uphill is a true test of will,鈥 he wrote. The following day offered the prospect of a few modest declines followed by mostly flat terrain.
The response to 鈥淒onald Lang鈥檚 Bike Ride鈥 鈥 in the form of letters and pledges -- has been so phenomenal that it threatens to eclipse the excitement of actually riding a two-wheeler some 3,000 miles.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a remarkable experience, I can鈥檛 say enough about it. It鈥檚 almost as if this is more exciting than the ride itself 鈥 how generous and kind people have been, not just with money, but support. I can鈥檛 express how great this experience has been,鈥 he said. Lang began the trip with the equivalent of 154 sponsors.
鈥淭o me, when I said I would do this, it was never a big deal; it was just what I was going to do. But it鈥檚 become a big deal because of the response I got. And now I feel a deep obligation to send back something of interest to the people, writing about all the things that I see, about the people that I meet and all the stuff that is exciting,鈥 said Lang, who vows to seek out truly interesting people along the way.
鈥淚 want people to tell me stories about where I am. I want my sponsors to get that.鈥
His unwavering desire to experience the country, mile-by-mile, reflects Lang鈥檚 robust belief that travel is 鈥渢he most powerful educator of all.鈥 For 30 years, Lang guided the Fredonia Chamber Singers on annual spring tours and a handful of excursions to Europe, where everyone stayed in private homes and was able to experience local culture and traditions.
Lang is due back in Dunkirk in late May.
